Rio Ferdinand is expected to miss two-thirds of a crucial eight-day period
described by Sir Alex Ferguson as the 'acid test’ of Manchester United’s
title credentials.The Premier League leaders tackle the first of three away
fixtures in just over a week at Wigan on Saturday.

Voice of experience: Rio Ferdinand could miss two of Manchester United's next three crucial gamesPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

United, sitting a point clear of Arsenal having played one game less, travel to Wigan, Chelsea and Liverpool in the coming days having won just three league outings away from Old Trafford all season.

It is a meagre return which has prevented United from opening up a commanding lead and if they continue to struggle on the road it could ultimately undermine their title bid.

Having been sidelined since injuring a calf in the pre-match warm-up ahead of the 1-0 defeat at Wolves on Feb 5, Ferdinand is now unlikely to return to first-team action until the visit to Liverpool a week on Sunday.

“Rio and Jonny [Evans] hope to be available next week,” Ferguson said. “Next week means the Liverpool game. Chris Smalling has done fantastic [in Ferdinand’s absence], but he is only 20.

“Rio is experienced and I think Chris will understand that, in games like Liverpool, if Rio is fit and ready for it, I will definitely play him.”

Any United encounter with Liverpool at Anfield is viewed as critical, and the significance of next Sunday’s fixture could be even more crucial to their title hopes if the trips to Wigan and Chelsea go badly.

Dropped points at the likes of Craven Cottage, St Andrew’s and Villa Park, plus the defeat at Molineux, have highlighted United’s inability to overcome teams in the bottom half of the table away from Old Trafford.

Wigan, sitting in the bottom three, are traditionally a rich source of points for United, who have won all of their five previous visits. Ferguson admits that the time has come for his players to rediscover such ruthless form.

“Our away form has not been as good as it normally is,” Ferguson conceded. “That’s the acid test, I suppose, and we’ve got these three away games now.

“But three points on Saturday is just as important as three points at Chelsea or Liverpool, or Arsenal when we play them.

“It’s difficult to explain [the away record]. You could analyse one or two of the games, like against Everton and Fulham, but it doesn’t matter at this stage of the season because they are all going to be massive games, whether they are home or away.

“Our record at Chelsea recently has been poor. We have to do something about that and that’s what Tuesday is about.

“But Wigan is the most important one and we have to concentrate on this and hopefully get the result we want.”

Arsenal’s victory against Stoke in midweek moved them seven points clear of Manchester City in third place, prompting Ferguson to concede that the title race was now most likely to be contested purely by United and Arsenal.

He said: “Normally, two teams break away. You come towards the end and there are always two teams and that’s the way it’s looking at the moment.

“I think Arsenal or ourselves will win it, but it’s all about a gathering of points now.

“It looks like maybe 82 points will win the league. We think we can gather that points total from the games we’ve got.

“You don’t care where you get them. You may drop points somewhere but, hopefully, the overall total is going to be enough.”

With Tuesday’s clash against Chelsea in mind, Ryan Giggs may be rested on Saturday to avoid aggravating a tight hamstring on a pitch which has been partially relaid at the cost of £100,000 since Wigan’s FA Cup exit against Bolton 10 days ago.

Ferguson said: “Wigan have relaid their turf, some of it anyway, although I understand the pitch is OK and not too bad.

“Obviously Wigan were concerned about it as I believe the pitch was really bad, but they have done something about it.”